Cattle guard



April 13,1926. 1,580,185

6. WEST CATTLE GUARD Filed Dec. 7, 1925 57/4 O! [I iazgizaa'ogvn-cu Iii Patented Apr. 13, 1 926.

UNITED STATES P GARFIELD WEST, OF BELMONT, NEBRASKA.

1 "CATTLE GUARD.

Application filed December provide a shifting or oscillatingguard beneath a railroad track which is resiliently supported 'n position so that the guard will oscillate when cattle orother animals step thereon and provide an unsteady footing in ,order to prevent them from attempting to cross the track or walk thereon.

Referring to the drawings, wherein is shown a "preferred embodiment of the invention, I

Figure 1 is a plan view of the cattle guard in position on a railroadtrack,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1,.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional View taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1 and 7 Figure 4is a detail View of the detachable spike member.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals indicate like parts in the several views, 10 designates the rails of the track, which are supported by the usual cross ties 11. I

An oscillating frame 12, positioned transversely of the track 10, is of any suitable width and of suflicient length to extend an appreciable distance beyond thesides of the track 10. The frame 12 preferablycomprises the metallic bars 13 towhich are connected the transverse rods 14 by means of the lugs 15 and the bolts 16. Upwardly projecting spiked or pronged members 17 are detachably secured to the rods 14 by thebolts 18 and the nuts 19, as shown in Figures 3 and tend to impede the walking of cattle on the frame 12. Should any .of the spiked members 17 be bent or broken, the same may be readily replaced by removing the bolts 18 and the nuts 19 from the rods 14 and another member substituted therefor.

Suitably spaced adjacent the ends of the frame 12 and outside of the ties 11' are arranged the supporting posts 20 to which the frame is resiliently connected, preferably by the coil springs 21.

and 4,

7, 1925. Serial No. 73,813.

The frame 12 and its associated parts are positioned so as to lie beneath the track 10 and not to interfere in any way'with the road bed.

Rollers 22 journalled in the brackets 23 are secured to the under side of the frame 12 by bolts 2-4, as shown in Figure 3. These rollers are preferably connected to the bars 13 between the outer side of the track 10 and the. posts 20 and are adapted to'tit in and engage the guide troughs or channels 25, which troughs arepositioned between two adjacent ties 11 and extend parallel with the track 10. The rollers 22 are normally maintained out of engagement with the troughs by reason of the tension of the springs 21, which cause the frame, when not under pressure, to assume the position as shown in Figures 2and3. c g

It-will be seen that by reason of the present construction, should cattle or other animals attempt to cross or walkupon the rail road track, they would be forced to step upon the frame 12, which would first slightly oscillate and then, under continued pressure bring the rollers22 into engagement with the troughs 25, whereupon if the animal continues to remain on the frame, it could cross the track but should it attempt to walk on the same, the frame 12 would move longitudinally in the guideways 25, thus imparting an unsteady footing for the animal, and cause it either to retract its steps or proceed to the other. side of the track. Ordinarily, the initial movement imparted to the frame 12, when an animal steps thereon, is suificient to deter it from proceeding further. However, if, despite the movement of the frame, the animal should remain thereon, it could proceed straight across the track, but any attempt to wander up or down the same would be immediately frustrated by the 0scillating movement of the frame in the guideways 25 caused by. the weight of the animal.

It is to be understood that the form of the inventionherewith shown and described is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the same and that such changes and modifications as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A device of the class described having in combination, a movable frame extending transversely of a railroad track and beneath the same, supporting posts outside of the track, resilient means connecting the ends of the frame to said posts, rollers journalled to the underside of the frame, and guide troughs adapted to receive said rollers, said rollers being normally out of engagement With the troughs and arranged to contact With the same when an animal steps on the frame.

2, A device of the class described having in combination, a movable frame extending transversely of railroad track nd be neath the same, supporting posts o or the track, resilient means connecting the ds of the frame to said posts rollers journalled to the underside of the frame, guide troughs extending parallel With the rails, said rollers being normally out of engagm ment with the troughs and adapted to con tact therewith when an animal steps on the frame, thereby limiting the lateral movement of the frame but permitting free longit-udinal movement thereof, and a series of upwardly extending spike members connected to said frame and extending transversely thereof.

3. A device of the class described having in combination, a movable frame extendingtransversely of a railroad track and b neath the same, supporting posts outside of the track, resilient n1ea.;s connecting the ends of the frame to said posts, rollers journailed to the underside of the frame, guide troughs extending parallel With the rails, said rollers being normally out of engagement with the troughs and adapted to contact therewith when an animal steps on the frame, thereby limiting the lateral move ment of the frame but permitting free longitudinal movement thereof, a series of up Wardly extending spike members connected to said frame and extending transversely thereof, and means detachably connecting the spike members to the frame.

l. A device of the class described having, in combination, a movable frame extending trai sversely of a railroad track and beneath. the same, supporting posts outside the track, coil springs resiliently connecting the ends of the frame to said post, rollers jour- :1 led to the under side of the frame, guide troughs adapted to receive said rollers and positioned between the posts and the outer sides of the rail so as to limit the lateral movement of the frame but permitting longitudinal movement thereof when the same is depressed, a series of upwardly extending spaced spike members connected to said frame and extending transversely thereof, and means detachrhly connecting said spike members t the frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GARFIELD l/VEST. 

